Seoul takes a stand: No 'six-way talks before resolving the sinking incident'

East-Asia-Intel.com ^ | East-Asia-Intel.com

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

South Korea has balked at restarting multilateral talks on North Korea's nuclear program, saying diplomacy must wait until Seoul finds out who sank its warship near the inter-Korean border.

The move could spark differences with the United States, which has made nuclear disarmament a top priority.

President Lee Myung-Bak's office made clear that it opposes the resumption of the so-called six-way talks on ending the North's nuclear weapons drive until it uncovers the cause of the March 26 sinking of a patrol boat that left 46 sailors dead.

"Our firm position is that there will be no six-way talks before resolving the sinking incident," the presidential office said.

South Korean investigators say the ship was most likely attacked either a mine or a torpedo from a North Korean submarine. Defense Minister Kim Tae-Young said that South Korea has found traces of a powerful bomb ingredient widely used in torpedoes and other explosives in the wreckage of the ship, believed to be a clear indication of the North's involvement.

South Korean officials promise to refer the case to the UN Security Council once the cause and culprits are determined. Seoul has invited experts from the U.S., Australia and Sweden to investigate the sinking in an effort to make it an international issue.

Investigators plan to make on announcement on May 20, when U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may visit Seoul.

Officials are concerned resuming nuclear talks at this time could weaken international efforts to punish the North.

Fueling that fear, North Korean ruler Kim Jong-Il said during his recent visit to China that Pyongyang could return to the six-party talks.

[tet68]

Maybe we’ll get lucky and the north will attack on the
21st.

[tet68]

20th. whatever.